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Happy 1st Birthday BacktoBetter

Published: 14 May 2014

One year on from launch and Aviva’s BacktoBetter service for large corporate PMI clients is proving that having high-quality clinical decision making at the start of the claims journey benefits clients.

BacktoBetter has been delivering compelling results for clients and employees, with much valued benefits and cost saving through its end-to-end early intervention management of musculoskeletal (MSK) conditions.

Key successes of BacktoBetter:

• Up to 30% reduction in average cost per claim for musculoskeletal conditions• Corporates using service effectively see real term spend reduction of over 10%• Further development of BacktoBetter with new Spinal Network

MSK conditions are one of the leading causes of absence in the workplace across the UK and the leading cost of healthcare claims for most employers. To support both members and employers, Aviva has embedded an expert clinical capability that manages MSK conditions in a much better way. This culminated in the development of BacktoBetter last year as a core benefit for large corporate clients, which remains unique in the market.

The early intervention approach has resulted in more members being effectively managed before their condition has progressed - so fewer people need to be referred to a specialist. Over the five year period of using the approach, Aviva has seen the volume of members needing onward referral to specialists significantly reduce from 65% to 25%.

The removal last year of the excess and out-patient benefit level for physiotherapy has also taken away a potential barrier to members seeking treatment. This has led to more people getting the expert support they need and this is reflected in a higher number of claims for MSK conditions.

At the same time Aviva has recorded a reduction in the average cost per MSK claim of up to 30%, as spend is directed to short, sharp and effective interventions rather than complex and often lengthy surgical treatment.

As a result, and after offsetting increased claim volumes with spend reduction, Aviva’s corporate clients are seeing a reduction in spend on MSK conditions of an average 5%, with some clients adopting the approach effectively seeing in excess of 10% reduction in overall MSK spend.

Mark Sharpe, Rehabilitation Clinical Lead for Aviva UK Health, said: “While members are recovering and returning to work quicker, their employers are also now seeing a sizeable reduction in real term claims spend, despite the number of claims for MSK increasing. Not only that, client feedback clearly demonstrates a very high level of satisfaction with BacktoBetter.

“In a relatively short space of time, Aviva has moved from providing a transactional PMI product to one that provides a smarter end-to-end clinical service to MSK problems, benefitting both customer and client."

To further improve our corporate offer and ensure members get the very best and most appropriate treatment, Aviva are working on bringing in a specialist Spinal Network to enhance our Physiotherapy Network.

The new Spinal Network is being developed over the coming months and will enable Aviva to engage with spinal specialists at the right point in the management of a member’s clinical pathway, working in partnership with the BacktoBetter case manager. It will be a dedicated network of specialists who will be solely focussed on the overall clinical outcome and will include conservative as well as surgical interventions as appropriate.

Aviva continues its partnership with the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy (CSP) across their Fit for Work initiative, which aims to improve the wellbeing of the UK workforce and highlight the importance of physiotherapy in preventing and reducing sickness absence.

To download the new BacktoBetter sales aid for use with your clients, click here.